I have a sneaky suspicion I have used this title before. But if the shoe fits...
2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33
Romans 16:10-27
Psalm 26:1-12
Proverbs 20:19
I had to read today's OT reading more than once before it hit me: Josiah became king at age 8, but it took him 8 years before he began to seek the Lord. And it took him 4 more years before his search led him to begin to purge the idols the people had worshipped. A further six years after that is when God called him to clear up the temple, at which point God appears to have granted him an opportunity to read the Word in a manner that would lead to an overwhelming and transformative realization of Who God was. At that point, for all Josiah had done to obey God, he was overwhelmed by the unyielding stain of sin in his life, and all he could do was humble himself and repent.
It could have stopped here - but it didn't, for Josiah appears to have hungered for the people to experience the same relationship he now had with God, so he ordered the Word be read, and he renewed the people's covenant with God.
I find I am often discouraged by how poor my understanding of God is, how weak my relationship with Him is. When so discouraged,, I can take heart from Josiah's experience, and persist in my efforts to get to know Him and develop a relationship with Him. And I can continue to hope that, with patience and persistence, God will deem me ready to get to know Him more intimately, so rewardingly that I will ache with the desire to share that relationship with others.
Thank you, Father, for the encouragement of Josiah's example. Give us please the grace to persevere, even through the times of drought, that you might deem us able to develop an ever deeper relationship with You.
Jon Lanuza
I AM NOT A CALVINIST!
ReplyDeleteI BELIEVE IN PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS, BUT I AM NOT A CALVINIST!
It is impossible to proclaim a belief in perseverance of the saints, also know as once saved always saved and eternal security, and at the same time declare you are not a Calvinist.
The Calvinistic T.U.L.I.P explained.
T-Total Depravity. Means that sin is in every part of one's being, including the mind and will of man. Therefore men are without free- will. Men are saved by grace alone.
U- Unconditional Election. God predetermines who will be saved and who will spend eternity in hell.
L-Limited Atonement. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was only for the predetermined elect.
I-Irresistible Grace. God selects men to be saved and then forces then to believe in Jesus.
P-Perseverance of the Saints. The people God has chosen for salvation cannot lose their salvation.
Perseverance of the saints is the culmination of the T.U.L.I.P.
Without the first four points of the Calvinistic T.U.L.I.P there cannot be a fifth point.
You either embrace all 5 points of the T.U.L.I.P or none of the points.
Yes, all five T.U.L.I.P points are contrary to Scripture.
T-Total Depravity.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.(NKJV)
All men who hear the gospel can choose to accept God's grace or reject it.
U-Unconditional Election.
Faith: John 3:16
Repentance: Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19
Confession: Romans 10:9
Water Baptism: Acts 2:38. Mark 16:16
There are conditions that need to be met in order to receive salvation.
L-Limited Atonement.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold ! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.(NKJV)
Jesus died for the sins of all men.
I-Irresistible Grace.
Acts 7:51 "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.(NKJV)
Men did and still do resist the Holy Spirit. Grace is not irresistible.
P-Perseverance of the Saints.
Luke 8:13...who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.(NKJV)
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrine of demons.(NKJV)
The Holy Spirit says men will fall away from the faith. Who do you believe the Holy Spirit or John Calvin?
It you believe in perseverance of the saints, once in grace always in grace, eternal security, then you are a Calvinist.
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